California State Archives State Government Oral History Program Oral History Interview with CYRIL C. NIGG Regent, University of California, 1955-1957 March 23 and 24, 1993 Corona Del Mar, California By Dale E. Treleven Oral History Program University of California, Los Angeles RESTRICTIONS ON THIS INTERVIEW None. LITERARY RIGHTS AND QUOTATION This manuscript is hereby made available for research purposes only. No part of the manuscript may be quoted for publication without the written permission of the California State Archivist or the Head, Department of Special Collections, University Research Library, UCLA. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to: California State Archives 201 N. Sunrise Boulevard Roseville, CA 95661 or Department of Special Collections University Research Library 405 S. Hilgard Avenue UCLA Los Angeles, CA 90024-1575 The request should include identification of the specific passages and identification of the user. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Cyril C. Nigg, Oral History Interview, Conducted 1993 by Dale E. Treleven, UCLA Oral History Program, for the California State Archives State Government Oral History Program. Information California State Archives (916) 445-4293 March Fong Eu Research Room (916) 445-4293 10200 Street, Room 130 Exhibit Hall (916) 445-4293 Secretary of State Legislative Bill Service Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-2832 (prior years) PREFACE On September 25, 1985, Governor George Deukmejian signed into law A.B. 2104 (Chapter 965 of the Statutes of 1985). This legislation established, under the administration of the California State Archives, a State Government Oral History Program "to provide through the use of oral history a continuing documentation of state policy development as reflected in California's legislative and executive history." The following interview is one of a series of oral histories undertaken for inclusion in the state program. These interviews offer insights into the actual workings of both the legislative and executive processes and policy mechanisms. They also offer an increased understanding of the men and women who create legislation and implement state policy. Further, they provide an overview of issue development in California state government and of how both the legislative and executive branches of government deal with issues and problems facing the state. Interviewees are chosen primarily on the basis of their contributions to and influence on the policy process of the state of California. They include members of the legislative and executive branches of the state government as well as legislative staff, advocates, members of the media, and other people who played significant roles in specific issue areas of major and continuing importance to California. By authorizing the California State Archives to work cooperatively with oral history units at California colleges and universities to conduct interviews, this program is structured to take advantage of the resources and expertise in oral history available through California's several institutionally based programs. Participating as cooperating institutions in the State Government Oral History Program are: Oral History Program History Department California State University, Fullerton Oral History Program Center for California Studies California State University, Sacramento Oral History Program Claremont Graduate School Regional Oral History Office The Bancroft Library University of California, Berkeley Oral History Program University of California, Los Angeles The establishment of the California State Archives State Government Oral History Program marks one of the most significant commitments made by any state toward the preservation and documentation of its governmental his­ tory. It supplements the often fragmentary historical written record by adding an organized primary source, enriching the historical information available on given topics and allowing for more thorough historical analysis. As such, the program, through the preservation and publi­ cation of interviews such as the one which follows, will be of lasting value to current and future generations of scholars, citizens and leaders. John F. Burns State Archivist July 27, 1988 This interview is printed on acid-free paper. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTERVIEW HISTORY ... i BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY ii SESSION 1, March 23, 1993 [Tape 1, Side A] 1 Childhood in Mankato and Minneapolis, Minnesota-­ Family moves to Los Angeles--Enters University of California, Southern Branch--Activities at the Newman Club--Enthusiasm about Los Angeles campus in the 1920s--Activities in drama and with the campus yearbook, the Southern Campus--Yearbook's financial success while Nigg was its manager-­ Difficulty in settling on a major--Early employment experiences after college graduation. [Tape 1, Side B) 32 Job with U.S. Gypsum Company--Works for the Kellogg Company--Learning the art of merchandising--Successful salesmanship leads to promotion--Creating the cereal department in grocery stores--Building trust with store owners-­ Continuing advancement in the company--Decision to stay in Los Angeles and leave Kellogg--Buys Los Angeles Saratoga Chip and Pretzel Company (later Bell Brand Foods, Ltd.). [Tape 2, Side A] 65 Expansion and success of Bell Brand Foods-­ Salvaging numerous business ventures--Sells Bell Brand Foods to American Brands--Retiring from the food business--Negotiating with the Janss Investment Company to save the Kappa Sigma, Delta Mu chapter, fraternity house at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)--Involvement in numerous service organizations. SESSION 2, March 24, 1993 [Tape 3, Side A] 84 Construction of the Cyril C. Nigg Newman Center at UCLA--Installation of Robert Gordon Sproul as University of California president--Sproul's aptitude as a fund raiser--His bias in favor of the Berkeley campus--Defeating Sproul's university budget to pave the way for UCLA's growth--Serving on the University of California Board of Regents--Stafford L. Warren's plan for the UCLA School of Medicine--Conflict between Warren and Edward M. Dickson over the location of Neuropsychiatric Institute on Los Angeles campus. [Tape 3, Side B] 116 Edwin W. Pauley's contribution as a regent--Time and energy required to be a regent--University of California's contract with the Atomic Energy Commission--The Pacific Coast Conference controversy--Nigg's involvement in resolving the issue--Establishing Bruin Woods--Sproul is succeeded by Clark Kerr--Franklin D. Murphy chosen as chancellor of UCLA--Coping with student rebelliousness in the sixties. [Tape 4, Side A] 144 Leaders in the UCLA Alumni Association--Wilbur Johns--Gold Shield Alumnae Service Honorary and Blue Shield--Alumni Association support for the California Institute for Cancer Research (CIRC)-­ William C. Ackerman--General Dynamics Corporation and the founding of University of California, San Diego--Appointment of William E. Forbes as a University of California regent. INTERVIEW HISTORY Interviewer/Editor: Dale E. Treleven, Director, UCLA Oral History Program Interview Time and Place: March 23, 1993 Nigg's residence, Corona Del Mar, California Session of two hours March 24, 1993 Nigg's residence, Corona Del Mar, California Session of one and three-quarter hours Editing Janet Shiban, Gold Shield intern, UCLA Oral History Program, checked the verbatim manuscript of the interview against the original tape recordings, edited for punctuation, paragraphing, and spellings, and with the interviewer verified proper names. Insertions by the editor are bracketed. Alex Cline, editor, drafted the table of contents and prepared the biographical summary. Nigg reviewed the edited transcript and returned it with only minor corrections. Papers There exist no private papers which the interviewer was able to consult for this interview. Tapes and Interview Records The original tape recordings of the interview are in the university archives at UCLA along with the records relating to the interview. Master tapes are preserved at the California State Archives. i BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY Cyril C. Nigg served from 1955-57 as an ex officio member of the University of California Board of Regents as president of the Alumni Association of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). During his tenure he served on Audit, Educational Policy, and Medical and Health Sciences Committees as well as on the Special Committee to Consider Use of the C and H Tract in Los Angeles. Nigg was born on March 12, 1905, in Mankato, Minnesota, but as a teenager moved to Los Angeles. After graduating from Loyola High School, Nigg attended what was then called the University of California, Southern Branch, earning his bachelor's degree in business administration in 1927 after the Southern Branch officially became the University of California at Los Angeles. He was manager of the UCLA yearbook, Southern Campus, in 1927. After graduation, Nigg eventually settled into a job with the Kellogg Company, and, stopping short of moving into its presidency, Nigg left in 1944. Nigg then co-purchased the Los Angeles Saratoga Chip Pretzel Company, converting it to Bell Brand Foods, Ltd., and served as its chief executive officer until he sold the company and retired from business in 1970. After retirement, Nigg continued to be actively involved in various charitable organizations. The interview focuses primarily on Nigg's youth in Los Angeles, student activities at UCLA, business career, and his UCLA Alumni Association presidency